Settled in 1799, this area was originally called Beech Hill. Incorporated in 1837, it was renamed Granville. It became a booming riverboat town with five general stores, a bank, post office, gristmill, blacksmith shop, icehouse, funeral home, service station, hotel, barber and beauty shops, doctor offices, and riverboat warehouses. During World War II, Granville served as a maneuvers training site for the United States Army. Agriculture was also a focus of the town up to the 1970s.